"Without a doubt, and I regret that she was forced to feel that she should have to go from us. But then, my son, you and your father seemed to wish to have her know that she was not my child, and must become your wife, and, as usual, I was weak enough to yield. Now the poor child has run away, and we will never see her more," and Mrs. Bernard began to cry. Herbert hated a scene and tears, so quickly took his departure, and went in search of his father. "Father, mother says that Jennie has run away." "I knew it! I felt it! But, quick! go in chase of her," cried Vance Bernard, strangely excited. "No need of it, for she has been captured." "Good! that is splendid! But where is she?" "Well, she went away prepared to desert us forever, for she carried what things she could with her and rode her best horse." "And where is she?" "But she ran upon the band of Sioux under Red Hatchet, and was captured by them." "What! did Red Hatchet dare to lay hands upon the child?" "Easy, father, and hear what I have to say. You see the Red Hatchet was obeying my orders." "Your orders?" "Yes, for I knew that I could not watch her, and I got Red Hatchet to capture her and carry her off." "Herbert, you are a fool." "Not such a fool as you think, father." "Why have you done what you have?" "Well, she does not know me in the affair, and so I shall arrange to rescue her, see?" "No, I don't see, nor will you." "Yes, I shall rescue her, and then will win her consent to become my wife, for it shall be so planned that she will have to marry me or the Sioux chief." "She will take him in preference." "You are complimentary to your son." "Well, I feel that you have done wrong, Herbert, for the Red Hatchet loves the girl far more than you do." "Red Hatchet loves her?" "Yes, and I'll tell you now what I never did before, that he once saved her from some Indians who had captured her. He has always loved her since, and has begged me to give her to him, but I would not tell you, as I feared trouble between you and the chief. Only a few days ago he threatened if she did not marry him he would destroy the settlements in revenge, and now you have placed her in his hands. Do you not see that you are a fool, Herbert Bernard?" and the settler spoke almost savagely. "I certainly do; but I shall rescue her from him, see if I do not," was the determined rejoinder. CHAPTER XXXIII. TO MAKE THE VENTURE. The more that Herbert Bernard thought over the matter the more he felt that his father was right, that he had, indeed, made a fool of himself. That Red Hatchet was always a welcome visitor at the ranch he had known, as well as that he seemed to be always most friendly toward Jennie; but that the Sioux chief had ever hoped to win her for his wife had never crossed the mind of the young settler. He had never been let into the secret of Jennie's rescue by the young chief, and more, that he was in love with her.